Clasp.



N0 MODEL.

PATENTED JULY 7, 1903-.

0.11. Tommsou. CLASP.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1902.

- INVENTOR.

I UNITED I STATES Patented July '7, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

CLASP.

SPIECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 732,798, dated'J' 7,1903.

hpplication filed May 19, 1902.

.TO all whom it may concern: Be it known that 1, CHARLES H. TOMLIN sON,a citizen of the United States, residing at Shelton, county ofFairfield, Stateof Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Clasp, ofwhich the following is a specification.

My'invention has for its object to :provide a clasp adapted for generaluse as a garment-- supporter-for example, as a stocking or sleevesupporter-and especially adapted when made of proper size to serve as adressskirt supporterthat is, to loop up and retain out of contact withthe ground or floor the train of a dress, as when walking or dancing. II

With these. and other ends in view I have devised the novel clasp .ofwhich the following description, in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, isaspecification, reference characters being used todesignatethe several parts.

. Figure 1 is an elevation of a double form of my novel clasp as in useas a dress-skirt supporter; Fig. 2, a rear-view thereof, the garmentbeing removed; Fig. 3, an edge view corresponding with Fig. 2; Fig. 4, alongitudinal section on the line .4 4 in Fig. 2,'showing one of thelocking-arms in the locking position, the other lockin g-arm bein g inthe disengaged position; Fig. 5, a rear view of a single form of mynovel clasp; Fig. 6, an edge view. corresponding with Fig. 5; Fig. 7, arear view illustrating another form of single clasp; and 5 Fig. 8 isasection on the line :8 8 in Fig. 7,'the

locking-arm being in the disengaged position. I

A denotes the plate of my novel clasp,which I may be made of gold orsilver or of any of the cheaper metals and is provided with an open ingor openings 15, depending upon whether it is the single or double form;10, the bridges; 11, the locking-arms, and 12 links by which thelocking-arms are connected to the plate. The bridges may be made of wireor sheet metal or the plates andbridges may be struck up from sheetmetal or cast integral, if preferred. In Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, I haveI shown the bridgesv as part of a continuous strip of wire brazed orsoldered to the plate and serving as a strengthening-rib therefor, asat13. 'This-strengthe'ning-rib may or may not be used, as preferred,depending u ponthe Serial No. 107,957. (No model) thickness of metalused in making the plate integral with the plate. The locking-arms maybe made of sheet metal, as in Figs. 7 and 8, or of wire, as in Figs. 1to 6, incl'usive; Thelinks are shown as made'of wire, although they maybe made of sheet metal, if preferred I The locking-arms are pivoted tothe links and the links are pivoted to the plate. In Figs- 1 to4,,inclusive, I have shown the links as l pivoted to eyes 14, which areshown as made integral with thestrengthening-rib, although that is ofcourse immaterial.

" The single form,'which is illustrated in Figs.

5 and 6, may be made precisely the same as described above, the platebeingof course made smaller and but one link, locking-arm, andbridge'being used. I i

In the formillustra-t'ed in Figs. 7-and 8 the eyes are shown as struckup from-the metal of the plate. with a slot a, by. means of which a tapemay be connected tothe device.

The operation'of my novel clasp will, it is thought, he clearlyunderstood from the drawings. Where the double [form is'used, theoperator disengages one of the locking-arms from the correspondingbridge by pushingagainst the locking-armthrough the correspondingopening 15, the-link and arm yielding at the joint and disengaging thearm from the bridge. The operator then places a fold of the garmentbetween the plate-and the locking-arm, the fold of garment entirelyfilling the opening and covering the locking arm and link, then pressesthel6cking-arm down I against the link, the portion of the'fold of thegarment which covers the end-of the locking- .arm is carried under thebridge, but without too danger of tearing it, and is thereby locked inthe clasp. Thesame operation is repeated to lock the other portion ofthe clasp to an- I iother foldof. the garment, itbeing simplest In Figs.7 and 8 I have illus- 55'"- Said plate may be provided 75 I of garment,as clearly shown in Fig. '1.

to attach the upper end of the clasp to the garment. first in the mannerdescribed, then lift the skirt or oth'ergarment as high as may bedesired, place a fold of it under the lower locking-arm, and'then pushthe lower locking-arm with a portion of a fold of the gar ment over theend thereof under the lower bridge by pushing against the lower link. Inusing the double form both links and both locking-arms will be fullycovered by the folds To disengage either end of the clasp from thegarment, the operator simply pushes against the fold of garment and thelocking arm through the opening at the end of the clasp which it isdesired to disengage, so that the fold of garment will drop away fromthe clasp or the clasp will drop away from the garment.

It will be observed that when the lockingarm 11 is in looking positionthe portion of the fold of the garment which covers its end is pushedbetween the bridge 10 and the back of the portion of the plate A whichis opposite to and parallel with said bridge. Therefore the fold of thegarment is confined or clamped not only between the rounded corners ofthe locking-arm and the end portions of the bridge 10, but also on bothsides of the end bar of the locking-arm, so as to be held or clampedagainst the bridge and also.

against the continuous fiat rear face of the plate. 4

Having thus claim-- 1. A clasp comprising a plate having afinger-opening and provided at one end with a bridge and at the otherend with a pivoted link, and a locking-arm one end of which is describedmy invention, I

. pivoted to the link and the other adapted to pass under the bridgecarrying a portion of a fold of a garment and locking the clasp thereto,the said bridge, link and looking-arm being all permanently located onone side of the plate, and the locking-arm crossing said opening andtherefore accessiblethrough the opening. I

2. A clasp comprising a plate having an opening'and a bridge parallelwith the plate at one end of the opening, and apivoted link and alooking-arm one end of which is pivoted to the link and the otheradapted to pass under the bridge and carry a portion of a fold of agarment, a locking-arm crossing which are pivoted to the links and crossthe openings and Whose free ends are adapted to pass under the bridges,substantially as described.

4. A clasp comprising apiate provided with an opening and having at oneend a wire bridge secured thereto, at the other end a pivoted wire linkand a locking-arm also made of wire which is pivoted to the link andcrosses the opening and whose free end is adapted to pass under thebridge, the bridge, link and locking-arm being all permanently locatedon the back of the plate.

5. A clasp comprising a looking-plate having openings, astrengthening-rib, bridges and eyes formed from a single strip of wireand secured thereto, links pivoted to the eyes and locking-arms pivotedto the links and crossing the openings,'substantiallyas described.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES H. TOMLINSON.

Witnesses:

Louis L. GREGORY,- W. G. TAYLOR.

